Douglas Kiereini (left) and his son Edward Gitau (right). [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
After a four year break from the annual CBA Africa Concours d’Elegance, motorcycle enthusiast Douglas Kiereini will contest this year’s event with a 2007 Yamaha Fraser.
The 2017 edition will be the 47th annual Concours organized by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club and will be held at the Nairobi Racecourse on September 24th.
The Concours is sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and is rated as the classiest event on the Kenya motor sport calendar. The competition has Africa continental status for cars and motorcycles and has been an FIM AFRICA recognized and sanctioned event since 2006.
The Concours rewards the owners of well kept classic and vintage cars and bikes. There are 12 classes for all makes and types of cars, pick-ups and SUVs and seven categories for motorcycles. These are listed in the regulations which are available from the event website www.concourskenya.com, or from the Bob Dewar Publicity offices in Block G of Norfolk Towers, Kijabe Street.
Kiereini has entered different motorcycle models in the Concours many times and has received meritorious and class awards. He is expecting to win the up to 1,200 cc street motorcycles class of with his Yamaha Fraser.
He said, “It is hard work to prepare machines for the event, but it is always a joy to see admiration on spectators faces at the Racecourse motorcycles judging ring during the Concours.”
“My love affair with motorcycles started in 1959 when I was three years old. My neighbour had a BSA M20 and I enjoyed the sound of the thumper engine whenever it was started. This was exhilarating to me and I can still remember it today. I would dash across the road just to watch and listen in wonder and amazement at this beast emitting a wonderful noise. I promised myself that one day I would own a motorcycle.”
“In 1968 when I was 12 years old, my dad bought me a second hand Vespa 90 Scooter from a coffee farmer in Kiambu for a price of 300 shillings. By 1969, I had graduated to a more powerful Vespa 150 GL scooter. In 1970 I bought my first real motorcycle, a Yamaha CS2E 180cc twin cylinder two-stroke street bike at a price of 4,000 shillings.”
“In the seventies 6,000 shillings was enough cash to purchase a brand new motorcycle with an insurance cover, road license, a helmet and a full tank of fuel. There was a choice of a 50cc tiddler, or a monstrous 750cc four-cylinder Honda superbike.”
“The entry of the popular Japanese motorcycles changed the dynamics of the industry. Motorcycling became a social culture and status symbol among the adrenaline-filled youth who now had some disposable income after finishing high school and proceeding to university, or the job market.”
“Motorcycle racing was also quite popular during this time with motocross events at various tracks. The most famous being the Golf Range behind the current Carnivore Restaurant. There were also the black top events at the Nairobi Embakasi and Nakuru racetracks. I raced at both motocross and black top events in the early 1970s,” said Douglas Kiereini.
Already over 42 cars and 22 motorcycle entries have been received for this year’s Concours. Among the cars on the list are the 1966 MGB of Vitafoam Products Limited, Stephen Warui’s 1959 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1927 Dodge of Magdi Riad.
The motorcycle register shows the 1925 Triumph 550 SD of Dominique Antoine, Ted Wanday’s 1956 BSA C10L and the 1952 Ducati 65T of Russel Hughes. Also 13 bikes entered by members of the Uganda Bikers Association will be at the Nairobi Racecourse on September 24th to contest the Concours.
Press Release.